Dems Threaten to Kill Health Care Bill Over Abortion

Bart Stupak says he's got the votes to derail it

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 3, 2009 9:23 AM CST

(Newser) – The House is barreling towards a health care vote, hoping to pass its bill by the end of the week, but there’s a potential stumbling block ahead: abortion. A group of socially conservative Democrats are threatening to vote against the bill because the subsidies it offers to help people buy insurance could be used to buy plans that cover abortion.

“I will continue whipping my colleagues…until a clean vote against public funding for abortion is allowed,” said Bart Stupak of Michigan, who says he can get 40 Democrats to vote against the bill with him—enough to derail it. A provision in the bill tasks insurers with making sure public money doesn’t fund abortions, but Stupak’s contingent says that’s just an accounting distinction. Pro-choice groups counter that doing more would effectively ban private insurance coverage for abortions.

Bart Stupak says he can get the votes to block health care legislation in the House if his abortion concerns aren't addressed. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 28 comments

hybrid

Nov 3, 2009 8:51 AM CST

and your god has no control over it@ck

Guava_Jelly

Nov 3, 2009 7:29 AM CST

I sincerely apologize, please let me clarify. Your assertion only the OP-ED section of the WSJ is "right of Mein Kamph weekly" is far more REASONABLE than asserting the WHOLE PAPER is "right of Mein Kamph weekly".

dns2

Nov 3, 2009 7:24 AM CST

The catholic church teaches that that the birth control pill is a form of abortion. So, does this mean that birth control will not be covered by the plans?? Why do religous people have to continue to force their beliefs on the rest of us by using government? Remember it was the conservative democrats that supported jim crow laws in the south and they used the bible to justify it

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Dems Threaten to Kill Health Care Bill Over Abortion

Bart Stupak says he's got the votes to derail it

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abortion • House of Representatives • health care reform • Bart Stupak • women's issues • abortion debate • health care abortion

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Oklahoma Senate Passes 'Personhood' Act

Says life begins at conception, but supporters say it doesn't ban abortion

Virginia Senate Passes Pre-Abortion Ultrasound Bill

Democrat Janet Howell tried to add rectal rider to bill

It's Time to Overturn Roe v. Wade

And only Rick Santorum is serious about doing that: Rick Santorum

Almost Half of Abortions Are 'Unsafe': WHO

Globally, 49% are performed without clinical help

Hide Babies' Sex to Stop Immigrant Abortions: Doc

Delay disclosure until 30 weeks to halt sex-selective abortions among immigrants

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Dems Threaten to Kill Health Care Bill Over Abortion

Bart Stupak says he's got the votes to derail it

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

abortion • House of Representatives • health care reform • Bart Stupak • women's issues • abortion debate • health care abortion

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Oklahoma Senate Passes 'Personhood' Act

Says life begins at conception, but supporters say it doesn't ban abortion

Virginia Senate Passes Pre-Abortion Ultrasound Bill

Democrat Janet Howell tried to add rectal rider to bill

It's Time to Overturn Roe v. Wade

And only Rick Santorum is serious about doing that: Rick Santorum

Almost Half of Abortions Are 'Unsafe': WHO

Globally, 49% are performed without clinical help

Hide Babies' Sex to Stop Immigrant Abortions: Doc

Delay disclosure until 30 weeks to halt sex-selective abortions among immigrants

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Newser By Users

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